Techniques for background public land mobile network (bplmn) search management

Abstract

Aspects of managing background public mobile network (BPLMN) searches are described. For example, in an aspect, a user equipment (UE) may determine whether one or more segments of a frequency acquisition from a prior discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle remain to be completed and whether the one or more segments of the frequency acquisition may be performed in a remaining portion of the current DRX cycle. If so, the UE may be configured to perform the one or more segments of the frequency acquisition when the identified remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for managing background public land mobile network (BPLMN) search, comprising:
 determining an end of a paging occasion in a current discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle;   determining whether one or more segments of a first frequency acquisition from a prior DRX cycle remain to be completed;   determining whether the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition may be performed in a remaining portion of the current DRX cycle;   performing the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition when the identified remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time; and   saving results from the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining whether the remaining portion of the current DRX cycle, after the performing of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition, provides sufficient time for performing a second frequency acquisition;   performing at least one segment of the second frequency acquisition based on the determining.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition include:
 a first segment for slot synchronization with a primary synchronization channel,   a second segment for frame timing and scrambling code identification,   a third segment for a pseudo number (PN) search, and   a fourth segment for reconfirming searcher peaks using a rake receiver.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising registering at a cell based on a result of the BPLMN search. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, after performing each of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition, determining whether a new remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time for performing at least another segment of the first frequency acquisition. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that one or more previously performed segments of the first frequency acquisition have failed;   aborting the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition; and   performing a second frequency acquisition in the remaining portion of the current DRX cycle.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for managing background public land mobile network (BPLMN) search, comprising
 a transceiver configured to tune to one or more frequencies to search BPLMNs;   one or more processors communicatively coupled to the transceiver by one or more buses and configured to:
 determine an end of a paging occasion in a current discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle; 
 determine whether one or more segments of a first frequency acquisition from a prior DRX cycle remain to be completed; 
 determine whether the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition may be performed in a remaining portion of the current DRX cycle; 
 perform the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition when the identified remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time; and 
 save results from the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition; and 
   a memory coupled to the one or more processors to store the results from the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the transceiver is tuned to one of the one or more frequencies to register at a cell based on a result of the BPLMN search. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
 determine whether the remaining portion of the current DRX cycle, after the performing of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition, provides sufficient time for performing a second frequency acquisition, and   perform at least one segment of the second frequency acquisition based on the determining.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition include:
 a first segment for slot synchronization with a primary synchronization channel,   a second segment for frame timing and scrambling code identification,   a third segment for a pseudo number (PN) search, and   a fourth segment for reconfirming searcher peaks using a rake receiver.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine whether a new remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time for performing at least another segment of the first frequency acquisition after performing each of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for managing background public land mobile network (BPLMN) search, comprising:
 means for determining an end of a paging occasion in a current discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle;   means for determining whether one or more segments of a first frequency acquisition from a prior DRX cycle remain to be completed;   means for determining whether the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition may be performed in a remaining portion of the current DRX cycle;   means for performing the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition when the identified remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time; and   means for saving results from the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 means for determining whether the remaining portion of the current DRX cycle, after the performing of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition, provides sufficient time for performing a second frequency acquisition;   means for performing at least one segment of the second frequency acquisition based on the determining.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising means for registering at a cell based on a result of the BPLMN search. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition include:
 a first segment for slot synchronization with a primary synchronization channel,   a second segment for frame timing and scrambling code identification,   a third segment for a pseudo number (PN) search, and   a fourth segment for reconfirming searcher peaks using a rake receiver.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising means for determining whether a new remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time for performing at least another segment of the first frequency acquisition after performing each of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable medium storing computer executable code for managing a background public land mobile network (BPLMN) search, comprising:
 code for determining an end of a paging occasion in a current discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle;   code for determining whether one or more segments of a first frequency acquisition from a prior DRX cycle remain to be completed;   code for determining whether the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition may be performed in a remaining portion of the current DRX cycle;   code for performing the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition when the identified remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time; and   code for saving results from the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising code for determining whether the remaining portion of the current DRX cycle, after the performing of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition, provides sufficient time for performing a second frequency acquisition;
 code for performing at least one segment of the second frequency acquisition based on the determining.   
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition include:
 a first segment for slot synchronization with a primary synchronization channel,   a second segment for frame timing and scrambling code identification,   a third segment for a pseudo number (PN) search, and   a fourth segment for reconfirming searcher peaks using a rake receiver.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising code for determining whether a new remaining portion of the current DRX cycle provides sufficient time for performing at least another segment of the first frequency acquisition after performing each of the one or more segments of the first frequency acquisition.